Grate for stoves



(No Model.)

L. S. SCOTT.

G'RATE FOR STOVES.

No. 256,923, Patented Apr. 25, 1882.

Wine-515* 65 in @nfof:

Nv PETERS. Phowume ra mr, wmfi mm 04 c UNITED STATES PATENT ()EETcE.

LAUREN S. SCOTT, OF BRISTOL, VERMONT.

.GRATE FOR STOVESL SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 256,923, dated April 25, 1882.

Application filed August 2, 1880. (No model.) i

To all whom "it may concern Be it known that I, LAUREN S. Soo'r'r, a citizen oftheUnited States,residinginthetown of Bristol, county of Addison, and State of Vermont, have invented certain Improvements in Summer Gratesfor use in Stoves, Ranges, and Heaters, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying single sheet of drawings, constitutes a specification.

As fire-grates for use in stoves, heaters, and ranges are commonly constructed the interstices for the passage of air and ashes through the horizontal portion thereofare uniform in size and distribution throughout the entire fuelsupporting area of the grate, and no provisions ordinarily exist for contracting or reducing the capacity of .the fire-box, unless by devices which in their nature constitute permanent walls, partitions, or structures within the combustion-chamber, and are not under control while hot.- By reason of such uniformly open construction of the fuel-supporting portion of the grate it is generally impracticable to hinder or arrest combustion ofthe fuel remaining in the fire-box after the fire is no longer needed. Again, capacious cooking utensils, like pots and kettles, having deep sinks, and which generally require a deep fire under them, hang so low in the fire-box that it is inconvenientto get sufiicient depth of fuel under them to drive the work properly where the fire-box is shallow; and sometimes where it is deep and only a slight or slow fire is needed, and that perhaps only in one end of the fire-chamber, the grate surface will be so low and the fire built thereon will be so far below the surface of the stove or range that it becomes necessary to fill up that end of the fire-box with more fuel than is necessary to do the required work, thereby occasionin g waste of fuel and an uncomfortable and unnecessary radiation of heat into the room. Besides, all the nnconsumed fuel remaining afire on the grate when the work is done will burn up, if wood, and be lost. These evils are more apparent in the summer season, when irregular and intermittent firings are required, and it is desirable at such times .to keep the house or apartments as coolas possible, than in the winter, when constant heat is required to warm the apartment or room, even when the stove or range is not at work. q

To meet andovercome'these and other objections which might be urged againstthepresent construction of grates for summer use i s the object of thisinvention; and broadly considered it is accomplished by constructing the fueLsupporting portion of the grate in different horizontal planes in such a way that a sink or basin or basins shall be formed where desired, which will hold a greater volume or depth of fuel than the adja'centorrelatively elevated portions of the grate. Such a grate in a firebox furnishes opportunities for a thin fire on the highest plane of the grate, nearest the top of the stove, when only a light quick tire is needed; or if, on the contrary, astrong, steady, or intense fire is wanted, the sink or lower planeisavailable. In connectionwith this grate a hinged partition-plate is used,by means of which the chamber may be divided by simply rolling or turning it up in an erect position, whereby two diminished fire-chambers are constructed, one on either'side of such partitionplate, a deep and a shallow one, either or both ofwhich are available for use at the same time. The unconsumed fuel remaining after the use of the fire has ceased is in agreat measure prevented from burningentirely out, and is largely saved byconstructingsomeportionofthegratebottom with very few draft-apertures, so that the coals or embers lying on such portions of the grate will smoulder and ultimately expire for lack of air'tosupport combustion. Such integral part of the grate (which in this case I have located in the central portion of the basin or in the lowest part of the grate) also serves as areceiver, into or upon which all unconsumed fuel can, be raked when done using the fire, and draft-dampers are closed, in which the fire will speedily 'go out when the stove or range is properly arranged for thatipurpose.

My apparatus will be readily understoodby referencetotheaccompanyingdrawings,wherein Figure 1 exhibits aperspective view of the f upper surface of my improved grate, showing the partition-plate recumbent. Fig. 2 shows a half-section of same witlrthe partition-plate erect. Fig 3 is a perspective viewof thepartition-plate detached from the grate, the view beingof that side oppositethe one shown in Fig. 2. This figure shows the details of the hinge-lugs whereby the plate is attached to the grate when in use.

The construction of the whole apparatus is evident from the drawings with the briefest description. In thiscase the grate-bed or fuelsupporting plate is constructed in two planes, A being the upper and B reing the lower, the difference in their altitude being left to the judgment of the builder. The upper level, A, is uniformly perforated or slotted, as deemed preferable, but the lower level or basin, B, is slightly perforated, asit isnot judicious to cut throughthis bottom under the fire any farther than is really necessary tosecure fair eombustionwhen thegrate is in use. Therefore the draftepassagesfor ad mittingair to'this part of the fire-am cutthrough the lateral walls of the basinandmay',if 'desirable, extend slightly into "the-bottom;plate,:asseeninFig-l. The'whole grate is supported in the fire-box of the stove or ran ge by an y appropriate means. The provision sho-wn forthatpnrpose in the drawings consists of lcgs =DD,.whi ch may be of such length "as to reach to the bottom of the firebox-or-to rest -upon the top of the ordinary fireagrate. v

The uppera1evel, A, ofthegrate is provided with aeserieswr a pair at least) of perforations arranged at proper intervals to receive the hinge-lugs];b,as seen in Fig.1. Thelugs b b are"crankethasshown in Fig.3, and made with EWU stOP fdCBhS O c and f f, as shown. These lugsiwi'll enter and pass through the holes of theagrate -ri, as seen at l) 1), Fig. 1,rand the stop facets or ledges are soarran ged that when theplate G is erected facets c 0 will engage with the-underside of .grate A, and thus prevent the plate from rolling or turningover farther in that'direction. When plate Ois recumbent, as in Fig. 1,the-facetsf fin like manner lock-under the bottom of grate A, and soprevent displacement of the plate when it would otherwise be disturbed by raking the fire, putting in ortaking-out fuel orashes. The partition-plate G isnotirremovably connected with or hinged to the perforatedpl'atcA, but is constructed so that it'can be readily disconnected. It is alsosusceptible of reversal by transposing its position endfor-end, in which reversed posit-ion, when-recumbent, it will lie over and will wholly or partially cover the ember-basin B. "W hen so used it is not materialwhether which-draftwill'freely circulate.

From t-h-e foregoing it will be seen'that it is not-materialwhat the peculiar size or shape of the grate-perforations maybe, nor the difference in height of plane A and plane B, nor whatthe means are to secure the grate in its proper position in the fire-box, provided it is adjusted at a proper elevation.

Several things are to be considered in fitting or adapting the rolling partition-plate G to its position and uses according to the duty to be required of it. In some stoves or heaters it might be desirable to make it of such configuration as when erected to make a. nearly tight or close partition between the two compartmentsof the fire-box. In such cases the plate 0 would be sparsely perforated; or where it might be requisite or desirable to have communication between the two compartments to admit draft or otherwise, it could be perforated or slotted to the desired degree. Thus 1 have shown it in the drawings as both wholly and partially perforated, and in those cases where the circulation of air is otherwise well provided for it need not be perforated at all for that purpose. The like suggestions hold-good as to the degree of perforation of the bottom of the ember sink or basin B. It must be determined by cxpcrience, thejudgment of the constructor or operative, and-the nature of the service required of it, and, as is wellknown, these constantly vary.

The rolling partition-plateis so constructed thatits position may be reversed,soas toroll in the opposite direction or over towardthe basin B. iln such cases it could beso constructed as toentirely cover such basin, thus making practically an exteusionof the upper plane, A, throughoutTthe wholeextentof the fire-box. 'T-hiscould bedonewithoutdeparting in any material respect-from the general principles of construction of L the several partsv of the apparatus. Such disposition of parts would practically restore the old style of fire-box so far as a uniform fuel-six pportin g planeis concerned. Iuthe latter case. plate 0 would lie in-a plane considerably above the bottom B of the emberbasin, and therefore itwould not be material whether the perforations of partition-plateU coincided with those of the bottom of plate B or not, as both draft and ashes would find free passage through the apertures in:both plates.

Having thus described myinventiomwhat I claim as new, and constituting the subject-matter for which these Letters Patent are granted, are the following novel features and combinations of parts, viz:

1. A horizontal fire-grate for use in stoves, ranges, and heaters, having a section'of'its fuel-supportin g area constructed in a plane lower than the general plane of such area, so as to constitute a basin or receiver for embers or parti-ally-consnmedlfuel, the bottom of. which basin is perforated with a much less number of draft-apertures than the adjacent portions of the grate, as a means for conservingfuel when the fire is dying out, substantially as the fire-grate, whereby such partition-plate may be hinged to the firegrate, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

3. A horizontal fire-grate for use in stoves, ranges, and heaters, provided on its upper surface with ahingedperforated rolling partitionplate connected and adjusted as described, so that when erected it shall divide the fire-box into two compartments, between which draft circulation canbe maintained through the perforations in said partition, and when recumbent such perforations shall coincide with the openings in the grate itself as a means for admission of air and escape of ashes, substantially as described and set forth.

4. The specific means shown for articulating the rolling partition-plate with the grate, consisting of the crank-shaped lug 1), projecting from the edge of the rollingplate 0, constructed with the stop-facctsc and f, arranged at right angles with each other, or so that when the plate is erected, one pair, 0 a, will prevent its further rotation'away from the recumbent position, and when the plate is recumbent the other pair, f f,will so hold itlocked down in such position that it cannot be displaced, substantially as specified.

5. A horizontal perforated fire-grate for use in the fire boxes ofstoves, ranges, and heaters, provided with a detachable falling partitionplate armed with hingelugs, the perforations ot the grate and the hinge lugs of the partition-plate being so adapted to each other that the position of the partition-plate may be reversed so as to fall in opposite directions in the manner described, and for the purposes set forth.

LAUREN S. SCOTT.

Witnesses:

ALFRED (J. SUMNER, BYRON W. POLLARD. 

